I’m an oboist who just happens to have a diagnosis, but there are very very few opportunities for me to get together with others in the mental health community to make music. We should do this outside our community, but when I had an episode, I lost my ability to read and play music. A mental health culture — others who might have similar problems — would help me get it back before I try again in the larger community.

This post was originally published on MadInAmerica.com, Robert Whitaker’s website about creating alternative approaches to mental health care.

Peer support is an alternative to the disease model

Four out of five adults, youth, and family members of community mental health centers (CMHCs) in New Hampshire told researchers they are satisfied. Three out of four said their quality of service is good, despite repeated budget cuts.

How do people who have never seen alternatives to the disease model know if they are satisfied with what they have?

Would fewer clients and families be satisfied if they were told about alternatives